Chicana Artist Yolanda Lopez to Host ‘Eviction Garage Sale’

Feminist Artist Yolanda M. Lopez, whose 1978 Guadalupe Series offered a modern take on Chicana feminity, is facing eviction in San Francisco. The artist and her family have publicized their fight in an effort to bring attention to the thousands of Ellis Act evictions that are permanently shifting the city’s demographics. Now, the 71-year-old is hosting a second “eviction garage sale” featuring accessories that she’ll have to part with when she moves from her Mission District home of 40 years:

Like many seniors, López survives on Social Security - which, she says, is too little to be eligible for low-income housing. She will be evicted July 12 and, as yet, has nowhere to go. Ideally, she would like to stay in the Mission District.

Recently an area near her home was designated a “cultural corridor.” Ani Rivera, executive director of Galería de la Raza, where López held her first eviction garage sale, says. “There was a whole generation behind making this area what it is today. Where is the city making its investment in the people who made this area a commodity? The mayor needs to consider these artists in redevelopment plans. Additional money to support artists and create affordable housing needs to be raised.”

Read this online at http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/06/chicana_feminist_artist_yolanda_m_lopez_fights_gentrification.html

Thank you for printing out this Colorlines.com article. If you liked this article, please make a donation today at colorlines.com/donate to support our ongoing news coverage, investigations and actions to promote solutions.